PETALING JAYA: It is important to investigate former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali's relationship with Jho Low, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic).
He said if there is a relationship between him and the fugitive businessman, then a "conflict of interest" occurs.
Dr Mahathir said that Apandi had also previously claimed that there was no wrongdoing by Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the 1MDB case.
He also questioned what kind of relationship Apandi had with Jho Low, when he decided that there was nothing wrong done by Najib.
"This means that Jho Low is also innocent. Apandi's decision prevents the court from hearing Najib's case and also protects Jho Low.
"If (Jho Low) is not guilty, why is Jho Low planning to pay one and a half billion ringgit to the Malaysian government?
"The innocent person's way is to return to Malaysia and be willing to be tried in court," said Dr Mahathir in a statement on Wednesday (July 27).
Dr Mahathir said this in response to Apandi questioning the then Pakatan Harapan government's basis for not proceeding with the proposal to reclaim Batu Puteh as belonging to Malaysia.
The prime minister under the Pakatan administration said he had explained the reason many times.
Dr Mahathir said Jho Low, whose real name is Low Taek Jho, was still not willing to return to Malaysia even though he was willing to contact Apandi to negotiate over the 1MDB scandal.
"What needs to be explained is how Apandi proposed to settle the Jho Low case with Jho Low's offer to pay the Malaysian government one billion five hundred million ringgit," said Dr Mahathir.
He added that Apandi's willingness to accept Jho Low's offer was because Apandi has now admitted Jho Low's guilt.
Dr Mahathir said that after all, Najib was found guilty of all charges in court when he was tried.
At the same time, Apandi's decision that Najib did nothing wrong was rejected by the court when Najib was tried, he said.
This meant that Apandi was negligent in carrying out the trust as attorney-general, said Dr Mahathir.
"It is important to investigate Apandi's relationship with Jho Low," said Dr Mahathir.
